PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Jan. 8 (PNA) -- Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn said development can no longer be stopped from crawling to this city with the additional construction of malls, banks, hypermarkets, hotels and lodging houses to cater to its growing population and tourism industry.

Robinsons Mall, the second largest shopping mall and retail operator in the country today, will begin constructing its mall that will reportedly also have a hotel, in Barangay San Manuel.

The mall will be constructed by Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC), the property unit of the Gokongwei group led by Chinese-Filipino businessman John Gokongwei Jr.

Hagedorn said Robinsons mall will be a welcome development in Puerto Princesa. The Gokongwei groupâs manifestation of interest, he added, only means that the city has all the potentials for businesses to succeed.

Uniwide, of the Uniwide Sales Group of Companies, is also constructing a new branch in front of the sprawling 8,000-capacity city coliseum along the national highway in Barangay San Pedro.

Uniwide, owned by the Gow family, is known as a textile bargain house since 1975.

Only last month, a three-floor supermarket and hotel was opened by the Unitop General Merchandize Incorporation (UGMI) at Malvar Street near the City Public Market.

The 168 Mall of the 168 Group of Companies, is also finishing the construction of its area mall in San Jose, near the New Puerto Princesa City Public Market, for its scheduled opening before the second quarter of 2011.

âSM Prime Holdings is also set to put up a small mall right in the heart of the city, maybe in 2012. All these developments will not come to the city without the cooperation of its residence. Once theyâre finished constructing, job opportunities will definitely openâ, Hagedorn said.

Like mushrooms, other banks are also setting up businesses in this city which became highly-urbanized only recently. The Bank of Manila and Union Bank opened a couple of months ago, while East-West Bank will begin constructing its new branch this year.

Hagedorn said the construction of more than 10 new lodging inns and pension houses, and other tourism-related establishments would surely increase Puerto Princesaâs capacity to accommodate foreign and domestic tourists.

âI now have more reason to promote our city," he said. (PNA)
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